Name: Soft Dinner Rolls: A Tangzhong Bread Machine Recipe
Prep time: 2 h 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup milk, divided (227 gr); 3 cups (360 grams) unbleached flour, divided; 1 egg (50 gr); 1 tablespoon heavy cream (14 gr) or 1 egg yolk (14 gr); 2 tablespoons sugar (24 gr); 1 1/4 teaspoon salt (7 gr); 7 tablespoons butter, divided (98 gr); 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast (6 gr)

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Preview: This Tangzhong bread machine recipe makes the tenderest and softest dinner rolls. These popular rolls are easy to shape and fun to eat.

Did you know the best and softest dinner rolls you’ve ever eaten can be mixed in a bread machine? This recipe will give you everything you could want in a yeast roll: lightness, flavor, and a shape that’s not too fussy for fumble-fingers. Keep reading to find out the secret.

Just like 98% of my yeast bread recipes, this one is written for a bread maker.

Don’t worry. The directions will tell you how to mix, knead, and allow the dough to rise in a bread machine. Shape the dough by hand, let rise, and bake in a conventional oven. It’s a hands-off way to mix and knead your dough. For those of you who like to play with your dough, you still get to shape them by hand. It’s easy with my method.

Why use a bread machine?

Have you ever had a piece of bread mix, kneaded, and baked in a bread machine? Did you love it? Maybe if it was still hot.

My Favorite Dinner Rolls--Updated: rolls in a basket

“Even bad homemade bread is good when it’s hot.”

Most of us don’t care for the strange shape, the tough crust, the hole in the bottom, and oftentimes, the dense and heavy texture of bread actually baked in a bread machine. That’s why I use a bread maker or bread machine to do what it does best–mix and knead bread dough.

A bread machine does a better job of kneading than most of us can do by hand. It’s also a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. After you press the dough button, you can forget about it for the next 40 minutes with one exception. I always take a peek after about 10-15 minutes to make sure the dough consistency is right.

Which bread maker is best?

The one you already have will probably work. When you don’t use it to bake, you don’t have to be nearly as picky.

Watch for these two things

The pan should hold at least 3 cups of flour. If it will hold 4 to 4-1/2 cups, that’s even better.
How well does it incorporate ingredients in the corners of the pan? Although you can use a spatula to push excess flour out of the corners, good models are designed so you don’t have to mess with this detail.

Are you looking to buy a bread machine?

I bought a Zojurishi bread machine over 10 years ago. It’s my favorite. I’ve owned several over the years. (They don’t pay me anything to say this although I get a small commission from Amazon if you buy one through the link.)

It’s an investment. But if your family loves bread and you like making it, it’s a good one.

If somebody gives you one or you find a cheap one at a garage sale, I would probably give it a chance. Plug it in and make sure it runs. Also, check to make sure it still has the dough blade(s) and that the blade is not permanently stuck to the machine.

What is the Tangzhong technique?

This Japanese technique cooks a small percentage of the flour and liquid (water or milk) in a yeast recipe very briefly before combining the resulting thick slurry with the remaining ingredients.”
kingarthurflour.com

Borrowing from the Tangzhong method, the recipe includes instructions for making a thick paste mixture with a portion of the milk and flour. This step only adds a couple of minutes to the process.

You will be rewarded with bread that is more tender and stays fresh longer. We’re talking about 2 or 3 days of just-baked-freshness as compared to one day for most homemade bread without preservatives. Having said that, I can’t remember these rolls ever laying around the house longer than two days.

Can I form the dough into different shapes?

Yes. That’s the fun part about making your own bread. Some of my favorite shapes are balls, crescents, and rolls as you see here.

Cutting and slicing is easier than making little balls, especially for beginners. Admittedly, they don’t look quite as perfect. That also means they won’t be mistaken for store-bought rolls at first glance.

The rolls shown here are more fun to eat, too. Who doesn’t love to unroll the layers of his or her dinner roll?

Can I make these rolls ahead of time?

Yes. When the dough cycle is complete, let it rise, and shape into rolls. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, allow the shaped rolls to come to room temperature (2-3 hours). Let them rise until almost double before baking as usual.

Instead of chilling the rolls in the fridge, you can freeze the shaped rolls. I place them on a tray and freeze them until they are hard. Remove them from the tray and drop them into a plastic bag.

When you’re ready for hot rolls, take out as many rolls as you need. Allow them to thaw (2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours) and bake as instructed.

How to mix soft bread machine rolls:

making the flour/milk paste — 1. Whisk 3 tablespoons of flour into 1/2 cup of milk. Cook in the microwave for 1+ minutes, whisking every 30 seconds until the mixture turns into a thick pudding consistency. Don’t worry if there are a few small lumps. If you accidentally let it overcook into a single mass, it’s best to start over and watch it closer.

My Favorite Dinner Rolls--Updated: storyboard — 2. Add the remaining 1/2 cup milk to “pudding” and pour it into your bread machine.

add remaining ingredients and choose "Dough" cycle — 3. Add the rest of the ingredients. Set the machine on the DOUGH cycle and press “Start.”

4. About 10-15 minutes into the cycle, take a peek. The dough should stick to the side and pull away cleanly. See pictures and more details about why this is so important here.

The dough should look similar to this picture when the kneading has finished.

Dough is almost ready to remove from the pan with it doubles in volume — 5. After the dough cycle is finished, check that the dough has risen to nearly double the original size. If not, leave the dough in the machine until it does.

How to shape the Tangzhong dough:

Rolling out dough to begin making rolls. — 2. Roll each dough ball into a 13 x 9-inch rectangle.

3. Divide into 4 long strips, then make 1 cut through the middle of the strips to make 8 strips.

Baking Tips

1. If rolls are getting too brown…

If rolls are getting too brown before time is up, lay a piece of foil loosely on top. Be sure they are done in the middle before you pull them out of the oven. “Doughy” interiors will cause them to cave in as they cool.

2. Having difficulty knowing when your homemade bread is baked through?

Buy yourself a quick-read digital thermometer. Here’s another that’s less expensive. (paid links) Bread should be around 185-190˚ F in the oven.

I highly recommend this method if you are an inexperienced baker or even if you are experienced. Since I started testing my bread with a thermometer, raw bread is past history in my kitchen.

3. Dump rolls onto a cooling rack 5 minutes out of the oven

Leaving rolls in the pan too long after baked will cause them to sweat and have soggy bottoms.

More Homemade Yeast Rolls:

Classic Dinner Rolls from a Bread Machine

This recipe produces a light and airy slightly-sweet dinner roll you can mix up in your bread machine. Shape by hand and bake in your conventional oven for the best of both worlds.

Cornmeal Dinner Rolls

This Bread Machine Cornmeal Yeast Rolls recipe makes a yeast roll formulated to be mixed and kneaded in a bread machine with just enough cornmeal to add a slight but interesting crunch to the crust.

Poppy Seed Dinner Rolls from a Bread Machine

A slightly sweet dinner roll to make your next luncheon memorable

Fluffy Cheese Bread Rolls

Fluffy Cheese Bread Rolls are light and fluffy dinner rolls with melty cheese on the inside and crusty cheese on the outside.

Really Crusty Dinner Rolls from Your Bread Machine

Crusty dinner rolls with a soft interior--cornstarch glaze is the secret.

6 Bread-Machine Secrets You Need To Know

A must-read for all bread makers

Did you try this recipe and enjoy it? Consider helping other readers (and me) by returning to this post. Leave a rating on the recipe card itself underneath the picture. No comment required.

If you have a question or tip to share, please leave it in the regular comments after the recipe so I can answer back. Or email me: paula at saladinajar.com.

Thank you for visiting!
Paula

Yield: 16 rolls

Soft Dinner Rolls: A Tangzhong Bread Machine Recipe

These homemade rolls are everything you could want in a dinner roll: light, airy, flavorful, and versatile. Plus, thanks to a Tangzhong-inspired modification, they stay fresh for 2-3 days with no preservatives

Prep Time 2 hours 45 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 3 hours

Ingredients

1 cup milk, divided (227 gr)
3 cups (360 grams) unbleached flour, divided
1 egg (50 gr)
1 tablespoon heavy cream (14 gr) or 1 egg yolk (14 gr)
2 tablespoons sugar (24 gr)
1 1/4 teaspoon salt (7 gr)
7 tablespoons butter, divided (98 gr)
2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast (6 gr)

Instructions

Making the Dough:

Measure out 1 cup of milk. In a separate small bowl, measure out 3 cups flour.
Make flour paste by whisking 3 tablespoons of the flour you just measured out and half of the milk (1/2 cup) together in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cook on High in the microwave for 1 minute, whisking every 30 seconds. Cook an additional 15-30 seconds, if necessary, until mixture is as thick as pudding.
Add the remaining 1/2 cup of milk to the cooked milk/flour mixture and whisk energetically. It's OK if there are still some lumps. They will disappear in the mixing process. Add to the bread machine pan.
Add egg, heavy cream or egg yolk, sugar, salt, 4 tablespoons of softened butter, remaining flour, and yeast to the pan and select the dough cycle. Press "Start."
Open the lid and make sure dough is the correct consistency. It should stick to the side, then pull away cleanly. If the dough is too dry it may thump against the side of the pan. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time. If the dough is too wet, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
When dough cycle finishes, check to see if the dough has risen to double its original size. If so, remove it to a floured surface. If not, allow the dough to remain in the machine until it is double, then remove and proceed with the next step.

Shaping and Baking the Rolls:

Divide dough in half. Form each half into a neat ball, flouring the surface you are working on as needed to prevent sticking.
Use a rolling pin to roll one dough ball into a 13 x 9 rectangle. Coat with 1 tablespoon of very soft butter. Divide into 4 equally-sized strips long-ways, then divide each strip in half short-ways. You should have 8 total strips. Roll each strip starting from either of the short ends.
Place rolls into a greased 8-inch pan. Repeat step two with the other half of the dough and another tablespoon of soft butter. Cover with a tea towel or cheap shower cap and set aside to rise again until almost double. This will take an hour, plus or minus, depending on the room temperature.
Preheat oven to 375˚ F when you think the rolls are almost ready. Bake rolls on the middle shelf of your oven for 15-17 minutes or until nicely browned.
Remove from the oven and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Turn rolls out onto a cooling rack for another 10-15 minutes. Brush all over with 1 tablespoon of melted butter. (If you leave rolls in the pan too long after baking, they will sweat and become soggy on the bottom.)

Notes

Directions for making bread with a stand mixer or by hand:

To make this recipe in a heavy-duty stand mixer, add all ingredients to the bowl (except butter) in the same order listed. Turn on low to mix all ingredients until moistened. Using dough hook, turn speed to 2 or 3 and continue beating/kneading until dough becomes smooth and elastic, about 5-10 minutes. Add softened butter and continue to knead with mixer until fully incorporated. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place. Deflate dough gently and shape rolls as indicated in recipe.
If making by hand, combine all ingredients(except butter) into a shaggy ball in a large bowl. Turn dough out on a floured surface and knead with your hands until dough becomes smooth and elastic, a process that will likely take 10-20 minutes depending on your experience. Gradually knead in softened butter until completely incorporated into the dough. Place dough ball into a greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise until double. Deflate dough gently and shape rolls as indicated in recipe
Please note: If you substitute regular yeast for instant or bread machine yeast, you must dissolve it first before adding to the dry ingredients. Stir it into about 1/4 cup of the lukewarm liquid called for in the recipe. Let sit for about 10 minutes. Add to other wet ingredients and then add dry ingredients. Proceed as directed to knead and shape rolls.

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Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1/16
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 6gSodium: 194mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

Elysia

Thursday 22nd of July 2021

Hi Paula, I don’t usually post comments but your bread posts have inspired me to try again as hand kneading is a hit and miss… and bread baked in the bread maker is…well, it could be better!

So thank you for the most detailed and wonderful recipes & explanation!!! I’ve tried the tangzhong dinner rolls & condensed milk bread loaf (adding ham & cheese) and it’s a resounding success! Love the tangzhong method! Indeed the best dinner rolls ever! 😁 God bless!

P.S. I’ve made 3 recipes today! Sharing with family & neighbours but so delighted to find a fab reliable recipe!

Paula

Hi Elysia, Your family and neighbors are so blessed to have you around. I can tell you love to bake bread. Glad you like the tangzhong method. It's truly amazing, isn't it? Thank you so much for writing.

Sharon

Tuesday 4th of May 2021

First time making these. They were an unqualified success! The Tangzhong technique was super easy.

I agree. Tangzhong is not really hard at all after you do it once or twice.

Mary Parry

Monday 26th of April 2021

We are really enjoying these rolls. As you say the Tangzhong method adds very little time. I am currently on my own, and while I could put half the recipe in the freezer, I also love cinnamon buns, so I have been dividing the dough in two and making half rolls and half cinnamon buns. There isn’t a big difference in the doughs and it works well! My one minor concern is that I can never roll out the dough to 9 x 13”. Should I be letting it rest before rolling?

Sunday 2nd of May 2021

@Paula, Thanks Paula. There is another batch in my machine as we speak. Unfortunately my nearest neighbours are several miles away and we haven’t been able to get to know them as we moved during the pandemic. On second thoughts maybe a delicious batch of rolls would break the ice! I wanted to try your sour dough recipe, but went for an easy option and made sourdough light in my Zojirushi, using the sourdough and then dough option. Turned out really well.

Tuesday 27th of April 2021

Hi Mary,

Wish you were my next-door neighbor. I would help you eat those rolls.

Yes, resting the dough will make your dough much more compliant. The only reason to roll it that thin is to more evenly distribute the filling. It will taste good either way.

Dave McKinnon

Tuesday 23rd of March 2021

My favorite dinner roll recipe! Which dough cycle on your Zo do you use? Thanks for a wonderful recipe. Dave M.

The regular DOUGH cycle. Glad you liked the recipe. It's my favorite, too.

stan

Thursday 22nd of October 2020

Why do you mix the flour and milk then microwave it? My bread machine says liquid first

Friday 23rd of October 2020

Hi Stan,

Mixing the flour and milk is part of the Tangzhong technique. Making the thickened mixture allows you to use a lower percentage of flour which makes the bread lighter and softer. Many people love the effect on their bread. If you prefer a more traditional method (the basis for this recipe), check out this dinner roll recipe.

Hope your rolls turn out great!